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The Choctaws have two Origin Stories, involving Nanih Waiya, "The Mother Mound," which is located near what is now known as Noxapater, Mississippi:"
1) The first tells of how Nanih Waiya gave birth to the Peoples. First the Seminoles, then the Muscogees, then the Cherokees, then the Chickasaws, and finally, the Choctaws. Each of the aforementioned tribes had traveled to new lands to settle, except the Choctaws, who stayed close to their Mother.
2) Second is the story of two brothers, Chahta and Chickasha, who headed the People, in a land far away in the West. They were looking for a new home and each day, they would put a pole in the ground, and each day that pole pointed to the East, thus, the People continued their migration. At the point of Nanih Waiya, the pole stood straight up and it was here that Chahta said that they would stay. Chickasha disagreed, and continued further North founding a new people the Chickasaws.
Traditionally, the Choctaws lived around Nanih Waiya in Central Mississippi, and spread to Southern Mississippi, as well as, Western portions of Alabama.
It has been said that the Choctaws were both the most peacful, yet the fiercest at War, of all the Nations in the Southeast. Their numbers are estimated to have been well over 200,000 before European conquest.
The Choctaws' first encounter with the Nahullos, was in 1540, when they were attacked by the Spaniard, Hernando de Soto, having slaughtered as many as 3,000 Choctaws. Next came the French about a century later, whom they remained allied with until the Americans won their Independence.
The Treaty of Dancing Rabbit Creek in 1830 was the start of the Choctaws long journey to Indian Territory Oklahoma. Being the first of the five great southern tribes (Choctaw, Cherokee, Creek, Seminole and Chickasaw) to be moved from their home lands. The Choctaws moved on this long Journey, with may of the Choctaw people not surviving this removal on what had come to be called "The Trail of Tears"
Upon their arrival into Indian Territory Oklahoma, the Choctaw adjusted quickly to this new homeland. Missionaries were sent, representing several denominations, including the Southern Baptist, Congregationalists and Presbyterians. The Missionaries established a good rapport with the Choctaws, and early impressed upon the Choctaws the importance and need for formal education if they were to co-exist with the white man. The Choctaw public school system was started in 1821 before removal to what became Oklahoma. Immediately upon arrival to the western lands, schools began to spring up.
There were three Districts where the Choctaws resided in Indian Territory; Pushmataha, Apukshunubbee and Mushulatubbee, named after three outstanding district chiefs. The Choctaws accepted an alien religion and code of morals, established a completely foreign educational system, adopted the constitution and legal system of an unrelated racial experience, and modified their agricultural and commercial practices to conform with a complex economic system. Each of the districts had a District Chief, Each town had its own Village Chief , an Assistant Chief (who organized the festivals, dances) and a War Chief who acted as leader of the town's warriors. The War Chief customarily appointed two assistants who became the town's military captains.
The three district chiefs conducted the official business of the Tribe in Oklahoma under the 1825 Constitution. In 1834 a second Constitution was adopted whereby all lawmaking authority was given to a general elected council of 27 members (9 from each district).
In 1906 The Act of April 26th (34 Stat. 137 provided "the final disposition of the Affairs of the Five Civilized Tribes in Indian Territory. As one of the Five Civilized Tribes, the Choctaws are today still governed by the provisions of this act.
Counties in Red are the counties where only a portion
of the county is in Choctaw Nation
Atoka
- Choctaw
- Hughes
- Haskell
Latimer
- LeFlore
- McCurtain
Pittsburg
- Pushmataha
- Bryan - Coal
Johnston
- Pontotoc
Addresses
Courthouse, Museums, Historical and Genealogy Soc., Libraries, and State Vital Records addresses. Covers county, state and Choctaw Nation.
Created by Ron Henson
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| County Coordinator: J. Myles Felihkatubbe | State Coordinator: Ron Henson | Asst. State Coordinator: Bobbi Dunn | |
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